A foundation Of Personal Religious Autonomy
You can create the life you want to live!
Personal Religious Autonomy
Not knowing the truth does not make it any less true… Did you know that all safe and sincere religious practices are federally protected by the First Amendment of the US Constitution and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act? These laws have enshrined the right of individuals and religious organizations to make their own decisions regarding matters of faith, governance, and practice without undue government interference. These rights were reaffirmed by a unanimous Supreme Court decision written by Chief Justice John Roberts in Gonzales v. O Centro Espirita Beneficiente Uniao Do Vegetal.
Many states, like Idaho, Georgia, California, and Florida, have enacted their own version of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act to protect their residents from state prosecution if their religious practices happen to conflict with state law.
We firmly believe everyone has an innate birthright to personal religious autonomy. Through sharing the sacrament, planning community gatherings, and encouraging journaling for spiritual integration, we aid our community members on their journeys to profound personal growth and transformation of their understanding of reality and the divine.
Safe And Sincere Religious Use Of Entheogens
The term “entheogen” is derived from two Ancient Greek words, ἔνθεος (éntheos) and γενέσθαι (genésthai). The adjective entheos translates to English as “full of the god, inspired, possessed” and is the root of the English word “enthusiasm.” The Greeks used it as praise for poets and other artists. Genesthai means “to come into being.” Thus, an entheogen is a drug that causes one to become inspired or to experience feelings of inspiration, often in a religious or spiritual manner… literally manifesting “god within,” meaning that these substances can help individuals access a higher spiritual state.
Mystic Journeys Church recognizes that strong entheogenic sacraments aren’t appropriate for everyone. For these members, we encourage ceremonial cacao until they are ready for stronger substances. The strongest naturally derived plant and fungi entheogens are reserved for our more mature members that sincerely believe they need access for their spiritual growth.
There is plenty of historic and archeological evidence of safe and sincere entheogen use. Some of which can be dated as far back as 10,000 years old, like the Tasslili Mushroom Men.
Developing Your Personal Creed
The Mystic Journeys Church encourages all members to comprehend and implement the ancient Toltec wisdom found in The Four Agreements and The Fifth Agreement books as the foundation for their own personal creed. This is the thread that links all members of our church stretching out and connecting us like a mat of cosmic mycelium.
Every mystic sets different intentions during their spiritual practices, so naturally, every mystic learns diffrent lessons from the divine at diffrent times. It’s important to acknowledge that each of us develop at our own pace and nobody changes overnight. So don’t judge yourself or others, we are all struggling in our own ways. Deep meaningful change takes practice doing your best everyday. Remember to love your yourself, and don’t beat yourself up when you inevitability do slip up… nobody is perfect. If you can manage to grow by 1% each day, you are only 100 days away from creating the life you want.
Journaling as part of the spiritual integration process gives members a chance to record, update and revise their spiritual creed on a regular basis. This practice extends far beyond the occasional entheogen ceremony. It involves work, introspection, and change before and after ceremonies. And it involves the continual, day-to-day development of respect for self, others, and the divine. This is the process of actually making your worship central to your beliefs and life.
Members are encouraged to find additional inspiration for their creed anywhere they find meaning, especially in religious, mythical, factual, and fictional stories, both old and new, that resonate with them on a personal spiritual level.
When members of the Mystic Journeys Church get together in person, they are given a unique opportunity to discuss the lessons they’ve learned and wrote in their journey journals in a judgement free social setting. Anyone is welcome to implement these additional private lessons if it resonates.
What Is A Mystic?
The loose definition of a mystic is any individual who strives for a direct, inner experience of the sacred, often beyond conventional religious rituals or interpretations. They seek a personal, intimate connection with the divine, whether that be God, the universe, or a higher power, and often prioritize personal transformation over adherence to strict beliefs.
Mystics are all around us. You could already be one and not even realize it!
Christian Mysticism:
Christian mysticism often involves seeking union with God through contemplative practices, prayer, and spiritual experiences.
Jewish Mysticism:
Kabbalah is a prominent form of Jewish mysticism that explores the esoteric aspects of the Torah and the divine nature.
Islamic Mysticism (Sufism):
Sufism is a mystical tradition within Islam that emphasizes direct experience and a personal relationship with Allah.
Hindu Mysticism:
Hinduism includes a range of mystical practices, including the pursuit of moksha (liberation) and the experience of unity with Brahman.
Buddhist Mysticism:
Buddhism incorporates elements of mysticism, particularly in its emphasis on meditation, enlightenment, and the nature of reality.
And so many more, that they can’t all be listed here. Nearly every religion and spiritual practice from the begining of recorded history is a form of mysticism at its core… even some nontheists could be considered mystics.
The Five Agreements
Mystic Journeys Church Welcomes Mystics of All Faiths and Dogmas
The Mystic Journeys Church is a network of mystics that believe in “the way,” a possibility of having a direct experience with the divine through mystical practices like meditation, prayer and/or contemplation with the aid of natural entheogenic sacraments to attain spiritual enlightenment. These experiences transcend ordinary sense perception and intellect, revealing truths not accessible through conventional means.
We prioritize personal, experiential knowledge of the divine rather than relying solely on faith or dogma.
We understand that true understanding of spiritual truths goes beyond rational thought and reasoning.
It is our mission to enable mystics everywhere to practice their sincerely held religious beliefs as long as those practices are safe and do not infringe on anyone elses autonomy.